The Annual Rant
This might be my last rant about Buskerfest. Despite it having become an annual tradition to which I know you’re all looking forward with bated breath (no?), it may be time to close the series (2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011). Not because Buskerfest has magically become a paragon of accessibility – were it only so….
Going to Gondwana
This weekend, we went to see the Ultimate Dinosaurs: Giants from Gondwana exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum. Basic story: big dinosaurs from the southern hemisphere. Really big. We did a herd excursion – somewhat fitting, what with the herds of extinct creatures – piling friends and kids into one group and got set loose…
First Nations Procession
I live in old town Toronto, the part of the city that holds the first city hall, just down the street from the first parliament site. And there’s been a vbunch of celebrations and events related to the bicentennial of the War of 1812. That’s the one where we kicked the Americans’ butt and burned…
Amongst the Woofs
This weekend was spent immersed in the canine species. It was time for the annual dog festival, known as Woofstock and it is one of the happiest weekend of the year. Very early on, we were greeted by this matched pair and what better way to set the tone for the festivities been a tough…
My Brush with Royalty
This past weekend wasn’t just exciting for me, it was exciting for anyone who likes a bit of royal watching. Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall did a lightning visit to Canada and spent about 24 hours in Toronto. As part of the itinerary, they were going to visit the Distillery…
A Spring Walk
Spring has hit Toronto. Everywhere you look, there’s green leaves, tulips, more green leaves and it is glorious! Also rather allergy-inducing, but when it’s this pretty, you put up with not being able to breathe through your nose, wheezing and teary eyes. I took a walk this weekend, out among the life and found there…
Toasty
It had been a really busy week and it was only Tuesday afternoon. The exhaustion was making the world fuzzy around the edges and my brain was so overstimulated that it wouldn’t stop running around in circles. I headed for my Mandatory Rest Period and tried to shut down aforementioned brain. It took a while,…
Sakura Hanami
I never knew Toronto’s High Park had Cherry Blossoms. In fact, despite my almost 30 years in the city, I’ve never been to High Park. Then last year, I heard about the cherry blossoms (after they bloomed), read about the absolutely charming Japanese tradition of Cherry Blossom Watching or Sakura Hanami (Google streetview awesomeness here)…
A Complicated Santa
Yesterday, Santa came to town and you all know how I love the annual Santa Claus Parade. This year, though… There’s a rant coming and I’m not just trying to work one in every time I post, but… OK, let’s have some fun first. And a lot of it was as delightful as it’s ever…
Occupy Toronto
The Occupy movement has come to Toronto and have settled down in St. James Park, not too far from my nec of the woods. I went by earlier this week to check out this new village I liked the sign at the entrance. Which was surrounded by media vehicles to such a point it was…
How Lucky Are You?
Sometime in the last month or so, I read some suggestions for writing exercises somewhere and this one struck me. Or maybe it was from Katie Couric’s book, I forget. Point is less about where I found it than the question itself: How lucky are you? Nifty question, innit? Since yesterday wasThanksgiving here in the…
